A tribal jirga making efforts to secure the release of over 100
security men kidnapped in Pakistan's tribal area said that talks
with militants would be successful and the hostages would be
released by Tuesday, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
reported on Monday.
A spokesman of the Political Administration of South Waziristan
also confirmed that the hostages would be released in next 24
hours.
The Political Administration of South Waziristan Agency released
about 100 tribesmen of Mehsud tribe, arrested by the administration
in retaliation against the kidnapping of over 100 security men on
Aug.30.
The Assistant Political Agent of South Waziristan Agency Khaista
Rehman said that the Mehsud tribesmen were released as a matter of
good-will gesture. The members of tribal Jirga hailed decision of
the administration and said it would pacify the situation between
the local militants and the government.
Local media reported that around 120 paramilitary soldiers from
Frontier Corps were traveling in vehicles when armed men kidnapped
them in South Waziristan. The soldiers were going from Wana, the
center of South Waziristan, to Ladha, a town in the region, when
abducted by the some armed militants on Aug.30.
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2007)
